More than 40 million Americans suffer from a sleep disorder, however as many as 70 percent may not realize they have one or have had an evaluation to begin treating their sleep disorder. As researchers continue to confirm strong connections between our quality of sleep and our overall health, Oklahoma Heart Institute is expanding sleep care services throughout Oklahoma to bring state-of-the-art screening and evaluations to help diagnosis and treat sleep problems before the onset of major illness like Type 2 diabetes, heart disease or stroke, among others.
Do you have a sleep disorder?
Do you have trouble falling asleep? Does your partner complain of your persistent loud snoring? Are you tired when you wake or find you drift off during the day and have trouble staying awake? Knowing the symptoms of sleep disorders can help you recognize if you are lacking the quality of sleep your body requires to function effectively and prevent disease and illness. For a complete list of symptoms that may indicate a sleep disorder, click here. You can also take a simple quiz online. If you have questions about your sleep, talk with your health care provider.
What should I expect during a sleep study?
If a sleep study is recommended to better understand what is happening when you sleep and what is causing some of the symptoms you are experiencing, here is a look inside a recent sleep study conducted at one of the Oklahoma Heart Institute Sleep Care clinics.
Tips for preparing for your sleep study
We want to make sure you are as comfortable as possible during your sleep study. These tips will help you be prepared to help you sleep as you normally would at home.
- Limit caffeine, especially after 2pm the day of your sleep study.
- Avoid alcohol completely the day of your sleep study.
- Try to avoid naps if possible the day of your study.
- Wear or bring comfortable clothes to wear during your study.
- Bring your pillow or other items that you need to sleep (like a sleep mask).
- Bring any medication you normally take a night (this can also include sleep aids).
- If you are having a follow-up sleep study to evaluate your CPAP equipment, bring all of those items with you.
Following your study, one of our sleep techs will wake you and remove all the sensor and monitors. Then you will be free to return home and start your day with plenty of time to get ready for work and other obligations. Once your study is reviewed you will be contacted to review the results. As mentioned in the video, if a sleep disorder like sleep apnea is identified you may be recommended to use a CPAP machine at night to treat your sleep apnea. Here is more information about what a CPAP machine is and when it may require adjustments.